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Call to repeal laws of repression



Media Release ­ 4 March 1999

Call to repeal laws of repression

The Burma Lawyers Council today called for the immediate repeal of all
national security laws in Burma following the shocking treatment of elected
MP's from the National League for Democracy.

"Recently, NLD elected MPs, Naing Thaung Nyunt and Daw Khin Htay Kywe were
arrested together with Hla Maung, from the Patriotic Old Comrades League,
for simply trying to attend a meeting with other representatives elected to
Parliament in the May 1990 elections." Said a spokesperson of the Burma
Lawyers Council.

The three MP's have been charged under the notorious section 5(j) of 1950
Emergency Provisions Act, for "undermining the security of the union". This
outdated legislation is one of several national security laws applied by
the military in Burma to eliminate its opposition and to silence democracy
advocates.

National security laws are catch-all laws entitling the military to arrest
and imprison a person for any reason. The military simply needs to assert
that a threat to national security exists. 

"National security laws in Burma are not proper laws as they are extremely
vague and impossible to comply with. A person will not even know they have
committed an offence under these laws until they are arrested and sentenced
to a lengthy prison term." Said the lawyers.

"In Burma, attending a meeting, making a speech, or writing an article can
result in a lengthy prison sentence. These laws attempt to legitimise the
blatant abuse of basic human rights."

The military perceives democracy as the greatest threat to national
security and targets elected MPs, members of the National League for
Democracy and other democracy advocates for detention under the Emergency
Provisions Act.

"The only emergency is the generals fear that they will lose their grip on
power. The only threat to national security is if the generals actually
stay in power." concluded the lawyers.

The Committee Representing the Peoples Parliament, established by Aung San
Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy in September 1998, has
recommended the repeal of the Emergency Provisions Act for its excessive
and illegal use by the military regime in Burma.

For more information please call 01 308 1994